Half to the edward p



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. H. REYNOLDS.

VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

110,518,651. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

lRW/VG Ii. REYNOLDS (No Model.) 4 Sh'efis- Sheet 2. I. H. REYNOLDS. I

VALVE CONTROLLING MEGHANISM.

No. 518,651. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. I. H. REYNOLDS.

VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

No. 518,651. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

I --L- (D a Q o o o J2 0 6 G V J I2 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I. H. REYNOLDS.

VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM. 7 No 518,651. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING H. REYNOLDS, OF MILWAUKEE, WVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THE EDWARD P. ALLIS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,651, dated April 24,1894.

Application filed December 4, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRVING H. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the control of the point of cut-off of steam in the cylinders of steam engines, and is designed more particularly to control the point of cut-off in the cylinders of compound or other forms of multiple expansion engines.

The object of this invention is to allow the point of cutoff in the low pressure cylinder or cylinders to be fixed at any desired point bya suitable apparatus, so arranged that the point of cut-off in the low pressure cylinder may be lengthened by the governor which controls the cut-off mechanism of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders under certain conditions of increased load on the engine,- the governor to have full control of the cutoffs of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders, but to have no control over the cut-offs of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders except to lengthen the point of cut-off as above stated.

The apparatus for controlling the cut-off valves of the low pressure cylinder is so arranged as to return the cut-offs under its control to their original position when the governor returns to its normal position.

The governor may be of any type and may be operated by speed, pressure (either hydraulic or pneumatic), or electricity, and the apparatus for controlling the cut-offs of the low pressure cylinders may be made adjustable or not, as preferred. The apparatus for controlling the cut-off mechanism of the low pressure cylinders may return its cut-offs to their normal positions by means of springs, weights, or by the weight of its parts only, or by means of pressure of any kind.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the guides of a crosscompoundsteam engine, showing myimprovements applied thereto; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, views illustrating, in detail, the fixed apparatus. Figs. 5, 6, and 7, views illustrating modifica- Serial No. 492,765- (No model.)

tions of such apparatus. Figs. 8, 9 and 10, views illustrating modifications in the general construction and arrangement of the valve gear; and Fig. 11, a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of the invention to a tandem compound engine.

A indicates a high pressure engine, B the low pressure engine, and O the governor mounted upon a post or standard D secured to the guides or frame of engine A. Journaled in this post or standard is a rockshaft E which is rocked or oscillated in its bearin gs as the governor rises and falls,-the connection between the governor and the shaft beinga rod or link F. Secured to the shaft E is a wrist plate or arm G having studs or pins a, which latter are connected with the cut-oif mechanism of the high pressure cylinder. It is of course to be understood that the shaft E and this arm G remain at rest until the increase or decrease in load causes the governor to fall or rise and to thereby actuate the said rod and its arm. Shaft E extends from post D to asimilar post H secured to the frame of the low pressure engine B, and is provided with an arm I which is held fast upon the shaft by means of a set screw b or in any other manner. Adjacent to this arm I, which partakes of every movement of the shaft E, is a second wrist plate or arm J having studs 0 which are connected with the cut-off mechanism of the low-pressure cylinder; said wrist plate or arm J being independent of the shaft E and capable of movement thereupon. This arm J which is held upon the shaft between the arm I and a collar d, is provided with a lug or projection e, which under certain conditions is struck by the arm 1, thereby causing the said arm J to rock or move with the shaft when there is any change or variation in the load. Arm J is provided, below shaft E, with a block f which works through a slotted guide or frame K in which there is a coiled spring c, the said spring tending to hold the block f at the end of slotted guide K, under normal conditions. Frame or guide K is supported at its inner end upon a rod or stem L which is threaded externally to receive the hand nuts 7t and h and which is suitably supported in a support or bracket M projecting from post H. By turning the hand nuts in one direction or the other, the guide or frame K will be adjusted toward or from its support M and the position of the wrist plate or arm J upon the shaft correspondingly varied. In order to secure an accurate adjustment of the said arm J, the guide or frame is provided with a graduated arm or scale 11 which moves in relation to a fixed pointer j carried by the bracket M; but, whatever may be the adjustment, the spring, hearing at one end against the guide or frame, and at the other end against the arm J (or its block), tends to hold the block f at the end of the slot, and the arm J and the out-offs attached to it in their normal position.

It is to be understood that the arm J and the mechanism just described,-and illustrated in Figs. 3 and t,are used solely for the purpose of controlling or actuating the cut-off mechanism of the low-pressure cylinder or cylinders, and are not aifected by the governor except under abnormal conditions. This mechanism I will for convenience term the fixed mechanism to distinguish from the mechanism for actuating the cut-off devices of the high pressure cylinders, which are actuated directly by the governor.

The operation, under the construction explained, is as follows: For normal conditions of load, the high pressure cylinder (and other cylinders in case more than one be employed) has its wrist plate or arm and the governor for actuating the same, set in certain relative positions; while the fixed apparatus for controlling the cut-off mechanism of the low pressure cylinder (and other cylinders if more than one be employed) is also set or adusted to cut ofi at a certain predetermined time or position. Now if the load upon the engine is increased, causing the governor to change its positiomand admit more steam to the cylinder or cylinders under its control, the shaft E will be rocked and its arm I caused to come into contact with the stud e on the arm J of the fixed apparatus, thus moving or rocking said arm in the direction necessary to admit more steam to the low pressure cylinder. In thus moving, however, the arm J is caused to put the spring g under compression, but when the governor rises, due to decrease in the load or increase in speed, the arm I moves away from the stud e, and the spring returns the arm J to its normal position. In stopping the engine, the governor falls, due to the decrease in speed, and the cut-offs controlled, respectively, by the governor and the fixed apparatus, are carried forward by the rotation of shaft E, thereby admitting steam for the full length of stroke or such part of the stroke as may be desired. In starting the engine, the governor rises, and the arm I moves away from the stud e on arm J, thus allowing the spring 9 to move the wrist plate or arm J and its cut-off mechanism to their normal positions.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 I dispense with the spring g, and use in lieu through the link thereof a weight N which is carried by the oscillating arm J. So too, in Fig. 6,the weight is used in lieu of the spring, but instead of having the block f work within a hollow guide or frame, the said block slides back and forth upon an elongated rod or stem L.

In Fig. 7 I employa construction similar to that last described, except that instead of a weight a spring g is used. All of these devices,illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7,operate in essentially the same manner as the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4:.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8 an adjustable threaded rod or stem L is connected with one end of a lever or bar 0, which is supported at its opposite end within a casing P. A coiled spring g (or its equivalent, a weight) urges or holds the bar or lever up against a stop k under normal conditions. Bar or lever O is connected by link Q with the wrist plate or arm J controlling the cutoff mechanism of the low pressure cylinder. Under normal conditions, the governor-rod B does not touch the bar or lever 0, but when the governor falls, upon adecrease in load or speed, the rod R is projected through the stop, strikes and depresses the bar 0, and, Q causes an oscillation of the arm J and the lengthening of the point of cut-off of the loW pressure cylinder. \Vhen the governor rises, the spring 9 returns the parts of the fixed mechanism to normal position.

In Figs. 0 and 10 the arm J is provided with a weight N, and has at its lower end a pin Z to work in the slotted guide K. It is also provided with the Stud 6 which works within a'slotted arm I controlled by the governor. When the governor falls, the slotted arm I strikes against the stud e and throws the upper end of arm J outward to lengthen the cutoff, but when the governor rises, the weight returns the pin Z to its normal position at the end of the slot in guide K.

From these illustrations it will be seen that various forms of mechanisms may be devised for carrying out the present invention,which consists broadly in having the point of cutoff fixed for a certain cylinder or cylinders under normal conditions, and putting such cut-0d mechanism under the control of the governor (which actuates the cut-01f mechanism of another cylinder or cylinders) for the sole purpose of lengthening the point of cut-off.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the cut-off arm J of the low pressure cylinder may be set or adjusted .so as to cut off at any desired point independently of the cut-off mechanism applied to the high pressure cylinder, and that the parts will remain in this relation until an increase in the load causes the governor to fall and actuate both the cut-off arms G and J; but upon normal conditions being restored, the spring g, or a weight in case a weight be used in lieu of the spring, will restore the cut-off arm J of the low pressure cylinder to the position to which it was originally set or adjusted.

In tandem engines where there is a considerable distance between the governor C and the further end of the low pressure cylinder S,-which would render the use of rods extending from the governing mechanism to the said cylinder, objectionable,l mount upon the high-pressure cylinder'l, a bracket U, see Fig. 11, and in this bracket journal or pivot a lever V which is connected by short rods to the valves of the low-pressure cylinder,the valves of the high pressure cylinder being connected with the wrist plate G by similar short rods.

I have illustrated in Fig. ll, in a general Way only, the trips or cutoffs that are con trolled by the governor; but as these devices are well known, no detailed description or illustration is deemed necessary. The form of trip or cut-off shown and described in Edwin Reynolds patent, No. 262,476, or other suitable form, may be employed if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The method of controlling the cut-off mechanism of the cylinders of compound or other forms of multiple expansion engines, which consists in actuating the cut-off mechanism of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders by means of the governor controlling the cut-off of the high pressure cylinder, only, however, when there is an increase in the load upon the engine.

2. In combination with the high and low pressure cylinders, and their respective cutoff mechanisms; a governor for actuating the cut-off of the high pressure cylinder, but having no connection with the cut-off of the low pressure cylinder except on an increase in the load upon the engine.

8. In combination with the low pressure cylinder and its cutoff; the high pressure cylinder provided with a cut-off; and a governor to actuate the cut-offs of the cylinders upon an increase in load, but normally independent of the low pressure cutoff.

4:. In combination with the high pressure cylinder and its cut-off arm G; the governor C adapted to move said arm; the low pressure cylinder and its cut-off armJ; and means for actuating the said arm J from the governor upon an increase in load upon the engine.

5. In combination with the high pressure cylinder and its cut-off; a governor which shall actuate said cut-off; a low pressure cylinder; and a cut-off for said cylinder, actuated by the movement of the governor upon an increase in the load, and returned or held to its normal position by a spring or weight.

6. In combination with the high and low pressure cylinders and their-independent cutoifs; a governor to actuate said cut-offs upon an increase in load; and means for returning the low pressure cut-off to its normal position.

7. In combination with a high pressure cylinder, a shaft E, cut-elf arm G, and governor C; a low pressure cylinder; the cut-ofi arm J journaled loosely upon the shaft; and an arm I secured to the shaft to engage the arm J.

8. In combination with a high pressure cylinder, shaft E, cut-off arm G and governor O; a low pressure cylinder; the loose cut-off arm J; an arm I secured to the shaft to move the arm J in one direction; and means for returning the arm J to its normal position.

9. In combination with the shaftE and arm I; the arm J provided with block f; the slotted guide K; the spring gtherein; the adjustable stem L; and means for throwing the arm I into contact with arm J.

10. In combination with the low pressure cylinder and its cut-0E arm J; means for set ting or adjusting said arm; a high pressure cylinder and its cut-01f arm G; and a governor for actuating the cut-oh? arms G and J upon an increase in load; and means for returning the arm J to its original position when the engine is working under normal load.

11. An engine having a fixed cut-off on the low-pressure cylinder in combination with means whereby, when the engine is stopped, the cut-off shall be automatically thrown out of action by means of the governor controlling the high pressure cylinder or cylinders said cut-off being normally independent of the governor.

12. An engine having the cut-offs of the compound cylinder or cylinders fixed and independent under ordinary conditions, and adapted to be thrown out of action by the regulator when the engine is stopped and shall be automatically thrown into action when the engine is started again,the cut-offs taking the same fixed position as before the engine was stopped.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

IRVING II. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

GEO. G. PHILLIPS, I 'l. LEUZARDER. 

